Laurel – The Delaware State Police have arrested a Laurel man after he led troopers on a pursuit yesterday morning, according to Director of Public Information Sergeant Richard D. Bratz.

Bratz said the preliminary investigation has determined at approximately 9:23 a.m. on Sunday, January 7, 2018 the Sussex Emergency Operations Center (9-1-1) dispatched a “be on the lookout” for a suspect named David S. Burns, who was last seen operating a silver Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicle with a stolen license plate. The suspect was wanted by the Seaford Police Department for the stolen tag and a pursuit which occurred on January 2, 2018. It was also known the suspect was wanted for a felony warrant out of Troop 5, in Bridgeville for Burglary, Theft and Criminal Mischief, according to Bratz.

On January 7, 2018 at approximately 11:36 a.m. a trooper on patrol observed the suspect vehicle on Seaford Road near the intersection of Discount Land Road, Laurel. A computer check was conducted on the suspect vehicle, as it pulled into the parking lot of the Food Lion grocery store located at 30214 Sussex Highway, Laurel. After the fictitious registration was confirmed on the silver Mercedes-Benz, the trooper attempted to conduct a traffic stop in the parking lot activating his emergency equipment. The trooper exited his vehicle and approached the suspect vehicle and the suspect drove away exiting the parking lot, said Bratz. The suspect drove his vehicle toward another patrol vehicle who positioned his vehicle on Discount Land Road and Sussex Highway to prevent the suspect from entering the roadway. The Mercedes-Benz fled past the patrol vehicle onto US 13 southbound towards County Seat Highway (SR9).

The suspect drove in an aggressive manner and overtook several vehicles on Sussex Highway before entering the right lane and passing on the shoulder, said Bratz. The suspect recklessly disregarded the red light at the intersection of Sussex Highway and County Seat Highway and fled southbound at a high rate of speed, according to Bratz. The suspect then was observed traveling south in the northbound lanes and turned onto Trussum Pond Road heading east. The suspect continued to disregard police signals and made a U-turn on Trussum Pond Road near Old Stage Road going west back towards Sussex Highway. The pursuit was discontinued at this point. The suspect continued his reckless driving and disregard for the red traffic light at Sussex Highway where he collided with a 2015 Ford F-150 in the northbound lanes operated by a 55-year-old male of Virginia, said Bratz. He continued after the initial crash and struck a 2016 Ford 4H, operated by a 66-year-old female of Millsboro at the intersection of Sussex Highway in the southbound lanes, added Bratz.

After the both collisions the suspect vehicle came to a stop on the shoulder of Sussex Highway and Trussum Pond Road. He then exited his vehicle, fled the scene on foot, and proceeded into the wooded area near Trussum Pond Road, accoding to Bratz. A trooper and his K9 partner conducted a search for the suspect and found him hiding in small ditch behind a broken toilet. The trooper located and apprehended the suspect without further incident. He was identified as David S. Burns, 28 of Laurel, Delaware.

The 58-year-old male driver of the 2015 Ford F-150 was wearing his seatbelt and was not injured in the collision.

The 66-year-old female driver of the Ford passenger car was wearing her seatbelt. She was subsequently transported to Nanticoke Memorial hospital for further evaluation and treatment for minor injuries.

The suspect, David S. Burns, 28 of Laurel, was transported to the Nanticoke Memorial Hospital where he was treated with non-life threatening injuries and released. He was charged with Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony, Reckless Endangering, Receiving Stolen Property, Resisting Arrest, Vehicular Assault, Leaving the Scene of a Collision Resulting in Injury, Disregarding a Police Officer Signal, Aggressive Driving, Reckless Driving, Driving without a Valid License, and other traffic related offenses. He was arraigned before Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on $26,360.00 cash bond and was issued an additional $5,750.00 secured bond for the Burglary, Theft and Criminal Mischief.

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